He stood up there
His soul— broken
Hands quivered
As time was frozen

Noises scatter
Truths were fake
Too much to decipher
Too much to take

A mind too weak
A heart so fragile
He’s reached his peak
His life was futile

Distant meters
His apartment door
Miles away
From hate and terror

Inches, a few
Away his sentence
The ending phrase—
A living conscience

He kicked the stool
His spirit lifted
No longer a fool
No longer mistreated

A tale so low
An awful strife
Fix your stance
It might save a life